Tap sensor for weapon simulator

ABSTRACT

A weapon simulator assembly for monitoring correction of a malfunction of a simulated weapon having a detachably attached simulated magazine includes a central processor for generating the malfunction scenario. A weapon processor is supported in the simulated weapon in electrical communication with the central processor, with an electrical interface connecting the weapon processor with the simulated magazine detachably attached to said receiver. A sensor, such as a tap sensor or accelerometer, is in electrical communication with the weapon processor via said electrical interface, with the tap sensor or accelerometer registering a strike when a force is applied to the simulated magazine above a predetermined value.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional patent application claims priority from provisionalpatent application 60/747,290, which is relied upon and incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a weapon simulator assembly, and, moreparticularly, to a simulated weapon of a weapon simulator assembly thatis able to detect the tap or slap of a magazine as part of an actiondrill corresponding to a weapon misfire.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When military and/or police personnel train with simulated weapons, oneof the training scenarios generated by a central computer or centralprocessing unit is a “misfire” of the simulated weapon. In an actualweapon, a misfire occurs when the trigger is pulled, but no round ofammunition is fired. This can occur due to many different reasons, andmost agencies have an immediate action drill (a series of steps, done inorder, immediately after the firearm misfire) that is to be performed bypersonnel in the event of such an occurrence. One of the steps includedin most drills related to firearm misfire includes a magazine tap orslap, where the user must slap or hit the bottom of the magazine toensure that it is seated properly in the weapon.

In an attempt to provide more a more realistic simulated weapon, someweapon simulators include a sensor, located within the simulated weaponitself, for the purpose of detecting whether or not a magazine ispresent and connected with the simulated weapon. The sensor will changestates when the magazine is “struck”, in that, during a simulatedmisfire, the user will push the magazine toward the firearm, and thecentral processing unit will measure the length of time that the sensorremains at a state indicating that the magazine has been removed fromthe simulated weapon. If the length of time, or “pulse width,” fallswithin a preset range, the weapon recognizes the signal as a “tap,” andprovides a corresponding signal to the central processing unit.

Although this solution attempts to provide a more realistic experience,a disadvantage of this approach is that if the magazine is pushed uplonger than the tap interval, or if the weapon is rested on the magazineat any time, the weapon will process the corresponding signal as aremoval and reinsertion of the magazine with respect to the simulatedweapon. Consequently, this will reload the weapon, even if that was notthe intent of the user, thereby diminishing the likeness of actualweapon operation, which is contrary to the desired result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a simulated firearm;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevational view of the simulated firearmshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the connections between the weaponprocessor and the sensor illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of thesimulated firearm;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side elevational view of the simulated firearmshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional side elevational view of a further embodiment ofthe simulated firearm; and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the connections between the weaponprocessor and the sensor illustrated in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a weapon simulator assembly 8 is illustratedthat is able to train personnel in the proper use and handling ofweapons without having to use actual firearms and ammunition. Aneffective firearms simulator duplicates the actual environment as muchas possible by using weapons that “look and feel” like the real weapon.Accordingly, the weapon simulator assembly 8 described herein is able tosimulate weapon misfire and monitor the reaction of the simulated weaponuser. The weapon simulator assembly 8 includes a simulated weapon 10having a processor 16 that is in electrical communication with a centralprocessing unit 4. The simulated weapon 10 is one typically used intraining scenarios that are generated and controlled by the centralprocessing unit 4, with the simulated weapon 10 being in electricalcommunication with the central processing unit 4 either via a tetheredconnection or a wireless connection.

In more detail, the weapon simulator assembly 8 includes the simulatedweapon 10, which has a receiver 11 with a receiver slot 11 s to receivethe simulated magazine 12. The weapon simulator assembly 8 additionallyincludes a tap sensor 14 that is able to detect a “tap” force to themagazine 12 and differentiate the tap force from forces associated withthe removal and reinsertion of the magazine 12 in the slot 11 s. Severalembodiments of the weapon simulator assembly 8 are described herein thatare able to accomplish this goal, with each of the embodiments utilizingthe tap sensor 14 in determining when the user has “tapped” the magazine12 to correct the simulated malfunction and when an “empty” simulatedmagazine 12 has been removed and replaced with a “full” simulatedmagazine 12.

During the simulation, either the central processing unit 4 or theprocessor 16 in the simulated weapon 10 will generate a scenario ofweapon misfire that must be addressed before the simulated weapon 10 isallowed to continue operation. This misfire scenario may be generatedrandomly, at a predetermined time, or as selected by a person overseeinguse of the weapon simulator assembly 8. In such a scenario, the weaponsimulator assembly 8 is not only able to monitor the simulated weaponuser's choices during the training session with respect to the simulatedweapon 10, but it is also able to monitor the operator's reaction to themisfire of the simulated weapon 10.

The first embodiment of the weapon simulator assembly 8 is illustratedin FIGS. 1-3. In this embodiment, the tap sensor 14 is positioned in themagazine 12 to monitor any forces applied to the bottom of the magazine12. The tap sensor 14 could be a pressure sensor, variable resistancesensor, shock sensor or impact sensor, among other related designs. Forexample, a shock or impact sensor 14 could be incorporated in themagazine 12 to detect a sudden or severe impact force and indicatewhether the strength of the tap force exceeds a predetermined level. Thetap sensor 14 will then provide corresponding feedback to a processor 16in the simulated weapon 10 via an electrical interface 15 connecting thesensor 14 of the magazine 12 with the processor 16 of the firearm 10. Inparticular, shock sensors are a type of transducer that responds toshock energy by producing another type of energy signal, usuallyelectrical. Such sensors 14 should be sensitive to shock but insensitiveto other properties.

There are various ways in which such shock sensors function. Forexample, the tap sensor 14 could include a housing surrounding a metalball, with the ball being held in a neutral position by a magnet. Uponimpact, the sensor 14 is subjected to a shock, and a force is exertedonto the metal ball in an opposite direction as the force of the magnet.If the impact exceeds a threshold value, the ball is loosened from themagnet. Due to the impact on the tap sensor 14, an electrical contact iseffectuated, and a signal is transmitted to the processor 16 accordinglyto provide the desired feedback, which is then transmitted to thecentral processing unit 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, the sensor 14 may be located proximate the bottomof the magazine 12 with an electrical connection 15 to the processor 16housed in the simulated weapon 10. In this arrangement, the sensor 14will be proximate the strike plate 13 where the magazine 12 is to bestruck by the user in simulating a “tap” drill. In operation, when thestrike plate 13 of the magazine 12 is struck by a force or strikesanother surface, and the force meets or exceeds a predetermined valuemeasured by the sensor 14, the sensor 14 will transmit a signal to theprocessor 16 in the simulated weapon 10, either mechanically orelectrically, communicating to the processor 16 that the magazine 12 hasbeen struck. The processor 16 will then be able to register the actionas one performed as a part of the drill to address the simulatedmalfunction of the simulated weapon 10, and allow the user to proceed inthe simulation with the remaining number of rounds of ammunitionidentified for the magazine 12 attached to the simulated weapon 10.

In a second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5,the sensor 14 as described above is positioned in the magazine 12 at theinterface of the magazine 12 with the simulated weapon 10. The sensor 14is placed at the interface between the magazine 12 and the simulatedweapon 10 so that the force generated by striking the bottom of themagazine 12 will cause a corresponding change of state in the sensor 14.This change of state is transmitted to the processor 16 in the simulatedweapon 10, and is recognized by the processor 16 in the simulated weapon10 as a tap force that occurred to correct the malfunction of thesimulated weapon 10, a corresponding signal is transmitted to centralprocessing unit 4.

A third embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 6,uses a tap sensor 14 for measuring motion, such as an accelerometer,that may be located in either the magazine 12 (shown in FIG. 3) or thesimulated weapon 10 (shown in FIG. 7). The sensor 14 will detect asudden acceleration in the direction of the magazine 12 movement andtransmit a corresponding signal to the processor 16. The accelerometeris a sensor 14 for measuring acceleration and vibration that can be araw sensing element, a packaged transducer, or a sensor system, with themost common types of accelerometers being piezoelectric, capacitance,null-balance, strain gage, resonance, piezoresistive or magneticinduction. The accelerometer is in electrical communication with theprocessor 16 of the simulated weapon 10, such that the accelerometerwill monitor any rapid movement of the simulated weapon 10 or attachedmagazine 12. Thus, when the magazine 12 is struck in a simulation tocorrect the weapon malfunction, the entire magazine 12 and simulatedweapon 10 will accelerate in the direction away from the strike. Theaccelerometer sensor 14 will detect this acceleration and equate it as atap of the magazine 12, thereby providing feedback to the processor 16of the simulated weapon 10 that the user has made the required contactwith the simulated weapon 10.

The processor 16 will then be able to register the action as oneperformed as a part of the drill to address the simulated malfunction ofthe simulated weapon 10 and provide a corresponding signal to thecentral processing unit 4, and allow the user to proceed in thesimulation with the remaining number of rounds of ammunition identifiedfor the magazine 12 attached to the simulated weapon 10. The use of anaccelerometer 14 therefore provides freedom in the position of thesensor 14 with respect to the simulated weapon 10 and magazine 12.

Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by thoseskilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only andthat various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may bemade within the scope of this disclosure as described herein and asdescribed in the appended claims.

1. A weapon simulator assembly for monitoring choices of an operatorduring weapon misfire, said assembly comprising: a simulated weaponhaving a receiver; a weapon processor supported in said simulatedweapon; a magazine detachably attached to said receiver of saidsimulated weapon; an electrical interface connecting said processor withsaid magazine detachably attached to said receiver; and a tap sensor inelectrical communication with said processor, said tap sensorregistering a strike when a force is applied to said magazine.
 2. Theweapon simulator assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said tapsensor is a shock sensor positioned in said magazine and connected tosaid processor via an electrical interface.
 3. The weapon simulatorassembly as described in claim 1, wherein said tap sensor is anaccelerometer connected to said processor via an electrical interface,said tap sensor measuring the sudden acceleration of said weaponsimulator.
 4. The weapon simulator assembly as described in claim 3,wherein said tap sensor is positioned in said magazine and in electricalcommunication with said processor via said electrical interface.
 5. Theweapon simulator assembly as described in claim 3, wherein said tapsensor is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectricaccelerometer, a capacitance accelerometer, a null-balanceaccelerometer, a strain gage accelerometer, a resonance accelerometer, apiezoresistive accelerometer or a magnetic induction accelerometer. 6.The weapon simulator assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said tapsensor is selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, avariable resistance sensor, a shock sensor or an impact sensor.
 7. In aweapon simulation assembly including a simulation for generating weaponmisfire in a simulated weapon having a weapon processor and attachedsimulated magazine, a method for monitoring the correction of thesimulated weapon comprising the steps of: a. applying a force on thesimulated weapon; b. measuring the force applied on the simulated weaponwith a sensor mounted in said magazine; c. transmitting a signal fromsaid sensor to the weapon processor when the force exceeds apredetermined value; and d. registering correction in the weapon sensorwhen the weapon processor receives said signal.
 8. The method asdescribed in claim 7, wherein step b further comprises: measuring theacceleration of the force applied on the simulated weapon with anaccelerometer.
 9. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the stepfurther comprises: measuring the acceleration of the force applied onthe simulated weapon with a sensor selected from the group consisting ofa piezoelectric accelerometer, a capacitance accelerometer, anull-balance accelerometer, a strain gage accelerometer, a resonanceaccelerometer, a piezoresistive accelerometer or a magnetic inductionaccelerometer.
 10. The method as described in claim 7, wherein step bfurther comprises: measuring the force applied on the simulated magazinewith a shock sensor positioned in the simulated magazine.
 11. The methodas described in claim 10, wherein the step further comprises: measuringthe force applied on the simulated magazine with a tap sensor selectedfrom the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a variable resistancesensor, a shock sensor or an impact sensor.
 12. A weapon simulatorassembly for monitoring correction of a malfunction of a simulatedweapon having a detachably attached simulated magazine using a centralprocessor, said assembly comprising: a weapon processor supported in thesimulated weapon in electrical communication with the central processor;an electrical interface connecting said weapon processor with thesimulated magazine detachably attached to said receiver; and a tapsensor in electrical communication with said weapon processor via saidelectrical interface, said tap sensor registering a strike when a forceis applied to the simulated magazine.
 13. The weapon simulator assemblyas described in claim 12, wherein said tap sensor is a shock sensorpositioned in the simulated magazine and connected to said weaponprocessor via an electrical interface.
 14. The weapon simulator assemblyas described in claim 13 wherein said tap sensor is selected from thegroup consisting of a pressure sensor, a variable resistance sensor, ashock sensor or an impact sensor.
 15. The weapon simulator assembly asdescribed in claim 12, wherein said tap sensor is an accelerometerconnected to said processor via an electrical interface, said tap sensormeasuring the sudden acceleration of said weapon simulator.
 16. Theweapon simulator assembly as described in claim 15, wherein said tapsensor is positioned in said magazine and in electrical communicationwith the weapon processor via said electrical interface.
 17. The weaponsimulator assembly as described in claim 15, wherein said tap sensor isselected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric accelerometer, acapacitance accelerometer, a null-balance accelerometer, a strain gageaccelerometer, a resonance accelerometer, a piezoresistive accelerometeror a magnetic induction accelerometer.